<< Back to Eps. 19-20 --- Continue to Eps. 23-24 >>
Episode 21: Last Call Home
The ship repaired once again, the Argo collected Wildstar and the Seagull and left Pluto-space victorious. They came to the edge of their solar system, already weary, feeling the lightyears they'd come to even get this far, but they still had so far to go and they were about to set foot in unknown space. Few Earth ships had ever gone out this far and none had returned to tell the tale. It was for that reason the captain had arranged for them to stop briefly here and take time to talk to their families for what could be the last time for some – or all – of them.
Nova stood at the door to the communications room they'd set up so that the crewmembers could spend five minutes each with their families.
"Allen, Edward." Nova read the next name on her list. A crewman stepped forward offering his ID. Nova checked it and gave it back, then let him in. "Your time starts as soon as someone answers your call. If no one picks up, you may opt to call again later today."
The crewman nodded and stepped in. The door closed after him. A little over five minutes later he emerged, eyes red, face downcast. "Thank you." He said quietly as he passed her and left to go back to his quarters.
"Amin, Nasira." She read the next name and a young woman came from the small crowd of A's in the corridor. She looked hesitant to enter after what she'd seen from her crewmate who'd gone in before her. Nova repeated her instructions and Nasira nodded, then took a deep breath and went in.
She also returned five minutes later, but instead of sadness, on her face was a smile. "My family got a good housing assignment." She whispered to Nova. "They're far away from the worst of the radiation."
Nova smiled and gave the Arab girl a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I'm happy for you."
Nasira left, telling her good news to some of the others she knew in line.
The mess hall was busy with activity as most of the off-duty crew milled around, taking advantage of the festive atmosphere. The KP crew had set out a variety of food and they had their choice of several drinks – all non-alcoholic of course. Risking the crew's safety wasn't on the captain's list of accomplishments for the day.
For today at least, they would eat better than the ones they'd left back on Earth.
Many were excited about the prospect of talking with their loved ones whom they hadn't seen for almost three weeks now. But Derek Wildstar wasn't among them. Instead of mingling with the rest of his off-duty shipmates, he hung back, staying in an unobtrusive corner, pretending to sip at something resembling a carbonated beverage.
He looked out over the men and women gathered and noted several. Chris Eager was talking and laughing with some of the other bridge crew including Jordan Dashell – Dash as they all called him – and Miki Saijo, one of Nova's replacements when she was off-duty or unavailable.
Eager's laugh rumbled through his generous girth, making him look something like a brown haired, freckled Santa wearing boots. Dash had to keep pushing his glasses back up on his nose every time he looked down at Eager. Then there was Miki. She was taller than Eager and thin. She always wore her dark hair down, but swept back her bangs with a well-placed headband. She was bright and pleasant.
All three of them had family of some sort, Derek knew. Eager had a sister in southern California; Dash's parents had been moved to the cities beneath Paris, and Miki's husband Seiji and young son were in Tokyo. Seiji had originally been the one designated to go on this mission, but he'd been overcome by radiation poisoning several months before the Argo's launch and wasn't physically able to fulfill the post he'd been given, so his wife had gone in his stead. The same thing had happened to several other crewmembers.
Orion's son had wanted to go in his father's place, but the old man would have none of it. Orion had told Derek about the conversation. Patrick Jr. had been insistent that his father remain on Earth and Orion had looked at the young man and said, "Son, I'm not letting my friends go on this journey alone. They've got to have someone to get them outta trouble."
Derek smiled at the memory of the old man's words. He was a determined one, that Orion, and he had lived up to his words. The old-timer had seen to it that he'd done everything in his power to keep the ship up and running and get it up and running if it went down.
Thinking about the engineer brought back memories of his parents, before the bombs had fallen.
Derek would have given anything to be able to talk with his parents again, even if they were sick, like Miki's husband. But he would not be enjoying that luxury today. Gamilon had taken both his father and mother without thought or care. Then they'd taken his brother with that same cruelty.
He stared out the viewport now, tired of the laity all around him. Outside lay the silent stars and many worlds he had yet to see. He only hoped that one of those worlds was Iscandar, and that he would see it someday within the next six months.
"Drago, Salvatore." Nova called the next crewman. She'd seen mixed reactions so far. Many, like crewman Allen, had emerged dejected, but many had, like Nasira, returned with words of hope and happiness from their loved ones. Peter Conroy had called his parents and younger cousin earlier and had been thrilled to learn that Corey – his cousin – had passed his entrance exams for the Academy.
Dash had received similarly good news in that his uncle and aunt – who'd raised him – were responding well to the radiation treatments they were receiving. The facility they were in was actually releasing people now that the bombs had stopped falling.
Other's had received news of the births of their children, or had been able to see grandchildren. Then there were the ones who had gotten word that their mother or father, or spouse or child had succumbed to the radiation. These had left in tears, or had had to be physically removed from the communication room and taken back to their quarters where one or more roommates was assigned to watch them and help them get back on their feet.
Nova called name after name until she came to… her own.
A sudden jolt of uncertainty ran through her and she felt like she wanted to jump for joy and throw up at the same time. What news would she hear? Was her father still alright? Was her mother still her worrying self, or had she too fallen prey to the poison spreading through the Earth?
She took a deep breath and handed her tablet over to the Chief Engineer, who would man her post until she returned.
"Have a good talk, Lass." He patted the young woman on the shoulder. She gave him a weak smile, then turned and stepped into the room. When the door closed behind her she felt like the walls were closing in. She immediately stepped back out. The pressure of going into that room alone was too much for her to bear alone. Suddenly she didn't know how some of the other crewmen and women had done it.
"God, help me do this. I need to talk to them before I leave…" she prayed.
"What seems ta be the trouble?" Orion asked when Nova reappeared almost instantly.
Nova's mind raced for a minute, then she found a solution. "Will you go in with me?" she asked the old engineer. "It would make it so much easier."
Orion shrugged, "I'd be honored to go with you, Miss Forrester." Orion nodded, handing the tablet off to Conroy who'd just walked up. "Hold this, lad." Orion instructed the pilot who had no idea what was going on.
"Okay…" Conroy replied, taking the device. "Anything I need to do?"
"No, just don't lose it." Nova said, then walked back into the comm room with Orion behind her.
The door closed again and the sense of being trapped started to come over her but just then Orion said, "I can't wait to talk to my granddaughter Kathleen. She's turnin' five in a few days."
"Oh wow." Nova replied, her fear melting away. "I'm glad you'll get to see her so close to her birthday."
"Me too, lass." Orion replied, "So get to makin' your call." He pointed to the comm unit and the chair in front of it. "You haven't got all day after all." He smiled.
Nova nodded, then slowly sat down. She laid her hand on the unit's sensor.
"Forrester, Nova." The unit said, then dialed her home number.
She waited for someone to pick up, torn between wanting and not wanting one of her parents to be home. Just when she thought no one would come to the comm, she heard her mother's voice.
"What have you done?!" Alex exclaimed. He immediately regretted it as he doubled over in pain. "You've –" he held his side, groaning in agony, "you've sent my brother to – " the pain interrupted him again, "his death!"
"I don't understand." Starsha replied, moving to help, but he held up a hand to stop her from touching him.
"My brother!" he jabbed his finger angrily into the holographic list before him. "He's on that ship!" Alex's face twisted into despair. "They don't have a prayer…"
"But they do." Starsha replied, not understanding that the phrase was an idiom.
Alex looked at her like she'd completely lost her alien mind.
"How is that possible?!" he exclaimed, still angry.
"I have seen the heart of that ship's captain, and many of the crew. I have been in their presence, though briefly, and I have felt the Spirit of Yahweh Himself aboard that humble vessel."
"Are you a fortuneteller or something?" Alex asked, incredulous at her words.
"Oh my, no!" Starsha replied, taken aback by the thought. "The malakhim told me I would receive Second Sight from Yahweh."
"I'm sorry – What?!" Alex's face turned from rage to disbelief.
"You… don't know of the malakhim…?" Starsha asked.
"I think they watch over children, but there comes a time when a man has to look out for himself." Alex replied, still agitated, but no longer quite as furious.
"They do watch over children, but they are so much more than that. They are the messengers of Yahweh and they do His bidding."
Alex seemed exasperated, "I have a friend who believes that, but that wasn't the part I was asking about. What is this 'Second Sight' you're talking about?" Alex hissed at the pain in his side again, then added, "And how is that even possible?"
"I see many things, Alex." Starsha replied softly, "Things that you will probably never see. They are things not of this world. I see the work of the malakhim; I see the signs of the presence of Abaddon; I sense the hearts of those I see and know…" she let out a sigh, "It is a gift… and a weight I must carry the rest of my life…" she looked away from the Eratite, "How am I to explain such a thing to anyone? You are looking at me in fear and disgust. What should I expect from anyone else?"
At this, Alex's rage began to abate and he felt a bit bad for having said what he did. He had no idea what this woman's life was like.
Suddenly he realized something else.
"Starsha… where are all the other Iscandarians…?"
Starsha looked back at him, eyes downcast, "There was a great plague… It took the lives of everyone… save my sister Astra and I."
"But why did it bypass you two?"
Starsha smiled sadly, "Let us simply say that… Yahweh has his way of preserving whom He will. The truth would be much too bizarre for you to believe."
Alex looked around the room then back at Starsha, "I've been captured by alien invaders, taken back to their homeworld, crashed on yet another planet that I've never been, and rescued by their queen. How much more strange can it get?"
Starsha nearly laughed, "If you must know, then I will tell you." She sobered as she began her tale. "Many years ago, my great-great-grandmother was given trust over a parentless child. She had no knowledge of the girl's past, or her lineage. Nothing was ever thought of it by anyone in the palace and the girl was wed to my great-grandfather when both of them were of age.
"On my fourteenth birthday my sister and I received a call from the ruler of Gamilon, one known now as Deun the Usurper."
"Why" Alex asked.
"Another long tale that I will tell you later should you wish it." Starsha replied, then went on, "Deun set his eyes on me and insisted that I become his queen. My father would have none of it. Deun was a selfish child who knew nothing of ruling much less of being a husband.
"He would not give up. It went so far that he threatened my father's life should he continue to refuse his demand…" Starsha took a deep breath, "He made good on his threat, and through some conniving I have yet to know, he released a great plague upon all of Iscandar. He had decided that should he not be able to have me, then no one would."
Alex's face twisted in disgust, "Coward."
"Perhaps so," Starsha replied, "But that was the least of my concerns at the time. One by one all of us fell prey to the disease. It turned the young into aged ones. It took the lives of them all and shortened them. The elderly died within hours. The middle-aged within weeks or months… and the young people… they fell within two years…" Starsha's eyes filled with tears as she remembered those horrific days, "I held some of the younger children as they took their last breath. Infants died in my arms and I couldn't so one thing to stop it…"
Starsha tried to see Alex's face through the tears, but couldn't, so she went on, "I discovered what the virus was doing, then by accident I discovered the secret of why my sister and I had escaped death… That parentless child who became my great-grandmother had been genetically engineered to pass a gene to my sister and I that would prevent a virus, such as the one released by Deun, from harming us." Starsha wiped the tears from her eyes, "So I have seen the work of Yahweh. He has saved me from death. Though thousands fell on ever side, death could not touch me."
Alex was silent for a long time, then he finally said, "I never imagined that anything like that could happen in this universe…" he took a sharp breath, "But how can you still trust in a God who would take your entire race…?"
"Because He took them for a purpose, Alex. I don't know what it is, and I many never know. It may be my lot to remain here on Iscandar alone for the rest of my life. If that is what Yahweh wills, then that is what I will do."
Alex shook his head slowly, "I couldn't do that…" he said, then looked up at that hated crew roster again and the fire reignited to his eyes. "So they've sent you to your death too, Stephen…" he growled, noting Sandor's name listed as the executive officer.
"Why are you so convinced of this ship's failure?" Starsha asked gently.
Alex took a slow, deep breath and replied, "Because I've seen the enemy face to face. I've fought them, given everything to see them defeated and they still took my parents, my home, my crew, my ship… They've taken everything except my brother and my life – and the one crewman who lies there… and can't even open his eyes…" Alex pointed across the room weakly, "And who knows whether he'll live or die…" Alex mustered a bit more strength and continued, "They are ruthless, and they've beaten us down every time, so why shouldn't I believe that they'll do it again? They've done the same thing to you. Can't you see that?"
Starsha brought a chair over to where Alex sat and joined him. "You should see this," she said. "Display all video and audio from the Argo's journey thus far." She turned to Alex, "My sight is limited, but here you will see what I have witnessed these past weeks."
"You're watching them? Is that what you were doing down there earlier?" Alex asked.
"Not precisely…" Starsha replied, "This record will show the events that have triggered the engine core to waken."
"The engine core?" Alex asked.
"Before the ship left your Eratite kin were instructed to install the core of the message capsule I sent them. It would become the heart of the Argo's engine and let me know when they were in trouble or dire need of help."
Alex's eyes were drawn to several of the images in the media listing and he enlarged them all at once. The pictures spread out before him, creating a ring of color, filled with faces he knew.
"Captain… Avatar?" Alex squinted at two of the images, making sure he was seeing clearly. "What's he – He's the captain?!" Alex's eyes widened, "How? Why?"
His eyes turned to Starsha for answers.
"I don't know." She replied, "Though I can say that he is a good leader for his crew." She brought the ship's roster up again beside the images Alex was still looking through. "His name is… Avraham…" she said quietly."
"Yes, he's Adam's father." Alex put in.
Starsha's eyes began to fill with tears again and she turned her gaze to Adam, "Yahweh, let him see his father again… let him live to see his home healed from the death that now haunts it…"
Episode 22: Farewell to Earth; We Will Return
"Nova! How are you?" the young woman's mother's face was still lined with stress, but not desperate or any more sad than it had been when Nova left.
Orion subtly stepped out of the camera's view just before the picture cleared up enough for Nova's mother to notice his presence.
"I'm fine, how are you – and Dad?" Nova asked, looking around the room for her father.
"Right here." The man's voice echoed from behind her mother and Mr. Forrester slowly stepped around his wife so he could see his step-daughter. "You look like you're doing okay on that ship of yours."
"Yeah, it's been… good so far." She replied, "I only have five minutes, so I wanted to make sure you're alright. Are you safe?"
"We're fine, Nova." Her mother replied, placing a hand on her husband's thin shoulder. "How's the rest of the crew holding up?"
"From what I've seen, most are missing home, but that's the worst of it for now." Nova replied.
"Well, keep an eye on them, okay." Her mother's face started to fall and her voice teared up, "And take care of yourself."
"I will, Mom. Just hang in there until we get back." She turned her gaze to her father, "You too, Dad. How's your treatment going?"
"I'm home now. For some reason we've had fewer bombings lately. Gave me a better chance of recovering not having extra radiation dumped on us."
At this Nova smiled, "We took out the Gamilon base that was sending planet bombs to Earth. There won't be any more bombings, Dad."
"Best news we've had since you left." Mr. Forrester said with a thin smile. He glanced at the clock, then looked back at his step-daughter and said, "Stay safe, Nova. Come back to us."
"I will." She nodded, starting to tear up, "I love you both." She saw the timer ticking down to ten seconds. "I'll see you in a year." She waved.
"Good-bye, Nova." Her mother returned her wave and her father nodded with a smile, then the screen blacked out and her call was cut off.
"That was… hard…" Nova said softly, the tears starting to roll down her cheeks.
"Aye." Orion nodded, stepping out of the shadows, "But you did good. At least your folks are doing well, and they're eager to see you home again."
"Yes…" Nova nodded, "Yes, that's true. I just hope they're both there to greet me when I get home."
"I wouldn't worry, lass. They'll be alright. You helped get rid of that base; you gave them a better chance than they would have had otherwise."
Nova nodded again, "And for that, I'm thankful."
Derek Wildstar roamed around the ship aimlessly, waiting for the calls to be done so they could get on with their journey. He was off duty, so there was nothing for him to do on the bridge.
He thought about where he could go – other than his quarters. Mark was going on and on about getting to talk with his little brother Jordy again soon, and Wildstar wanted to steer clear of that conversation.
He didn't have many options. He could hang around the mess hall, but most of the off-duty crew were there talking about their families. He could sneak into the kitchen, but the cook would frown upon that. He'd tried it before and had been summarily kicked out with a warning not to come back or he'd find himself on potato-peeling duty for a month.
Another option was the ship's fitness center, though he didn't relish the thought of having to listen to any of the other occupants' conversations, so he passed on that option.
Suddenly he bumped into two other crewmen, both laughing and talking.
"What're you two doing?" Derek asked, annoyed, "Get back to your posts!"
"Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir." They both scurried off, wondering what had gotten into their grumpy superior.
Derek trudged on, looking in vain for somewhere to go where he could be alone with his thoughts. Then an idea came to him. He turned around and started off the other way.
Hours later Nova found him sitting in the cockpit of his Zero, staring at the inactive instruments.
"It's your turn to talk to Earth, Derek." She called to him.
When she received no reply she pushed off the floor and floated up to the Zero's dock. The near-zero gravity made it much easier to move around in the hangar. It was a lot safer too since no one had to climb up to their planes, instead, they simply floated wherever they needed to go.
"Derek, what's wrong?" she asked, grabbing on to the lip of the Zero's cockpit and pulling herself towards the plane.
"I just don't." he replied.
"But that doesn't make sense." Nova replied, "Why wouldn't you want to talk to your family?"
Derek didn't reply right away, instead he just kept staring, his arms crossed defensively.
"Just leave me alone." He finally said, turning away from Nova.
"But, Derek –"
"I don't have any family back on Earth – they're all dead!" he blurted, his face turned away from the woman.
Nova breathed in sharply, her hand flying up to cover her open mouth. "Oh… I'm so sorry… I didn't know…"
"Just go." Derek said quietly.
Nova nodded and whispered, "I'll let the next crewman know it's their turn…" then she propelled herself back down to the deck and left the hangar hurriedly.
Captain Avatar walked into the kitchens, looking this way and that.
"Captain." The head cook saw Avatar's entrance, "What can I do for you?"
"Oh, nothing." Avatar shook his head. What he sought wasn't here. "Thank you." He nodded to the cook and stepped back out of the KP area.
The Captain walked on and on until he came to the engine room. He stepped in and walked through the expansive room. The sounds of the gigantic engine thrumming and humming through the deck plates.
Avatar stepped over to one of the many control stations and checked the status indicators.
"Ah, Captain!" Orion's voice echoed from one of the catwalks above. "Can I help you, Sir?"
"Oh!" Avatar looked up, surprised. "No, thank you, Orion." The captain quickly glanced around the engine room, "Just checking on the engine myself for once."
"She's doin' well, Sir. Nothing unusual since she was rebooted."
"Good. Good." Avatar nodded, then turned to leave, "Keep up the good work."
Orion watched the captain leave, puzzled, "What're you doing down here, old friend?"
The hangar doors hissed open.
Derek didn't even look to see who it was. After all, he'd rather remain unnoticed as long as he could – preferably until the rest of the crew had had their comm time.
"Wildstar?"
The voice of Captain Avatar startled Derek and he finally glanced down.
"Come on down. I've something I want to show you." The Captain said without even looking up.
Derek slowly obeyed and climbed out of his fighter, pushing himself back down to the deck and following the captain out into the hall.
"Quite a view, isn't it?" Avatar said as he and Derek entered the captain's cabin.
The view of the stars compelled them both to stop and stare.
The captain managed to tear his gaze away from the sight long enough to invite Wildstar to take a seat.
The young man obeyed and sat. "What'd you take me here for, Captain? If I may ask." Wildstar looked at the old captain questioningly.
Avatar let a thin smile spread across his face, "You're not the only one on the ship with no one to call, Wildstar."
Suddenly the cabin door hissed open and Sandor stepped in. "Captain, we're almost ready. The only ones we have left are the crewmen who need to try to contact their families again."
"Thank you, Sandor." Avatar dismissed the XO, then once the door was closed he looked at Wildstar, "Sandor has no one either. His sister Mio died years ago in the bombings. She was his only living relative. Thomas Riggins in the medical bay has no one either. His wife died of radiation poisoning a week before we launched." Avatar stopped to take out a worn, printed photograph. He held it out to Derek, "My son and daughter." He supplied, then pointed to the young woman, "Jennifer never made it to her own high school graduation. It was hard on Adam to watch his sister suffer from the radiation. He had just entered the Academy at the time. Jen wanted so much to be able to see her brother graduate. She begged to go to the ceremony, but she… died before his second year ended. Adam met his end bravely on the same ship as your brother."
Derek couldn't think of anything to say, so he remained silent.
"Everyone aboard this ship has suffered, and will suffer more before this journey is through. Don't be discouraged, Wildstar. I know you lost your brother, but you have a family in this crew. You'll find them trying, funny, even infuriating at times. But do not discount them. They'll be there when you need them to be." Avatar took the old photo back and tucked it away again, then he reached over to a short cupboard door and opened it. He reached in and withdrew a tall glass bottle filled with clear liquid and two glasses. He popped the cork on the bottle and set the glasses down on his tiny desk, then he poured until both cups were full.
"This is some of the purest water left on Earth." The captain held one of the glasses out to Wildstar who took the offered cup. "From an underground spring near my old home. Several months after the bombs started falling and the world found out that there was poison raining from the sky, countries began harvesting as much fresh water as possible. This is the last bottle from that effort."
The Captain held his glass aloft and said, "To Earth: may she become green and grow again."
The two quietly clinked their glasses and drank, sharing a moment of deep sobriety.
The cabin was quiet, the only sounds were the hummings of the ship's machinery.
Outside, the stars sat waiting for them to continue on they way.
Derek looked at them, and the longer he did, the more he felt their pull, their call to come and taste the great adventure that lay before them.
Suddenly, he felt compelled to stand and speak. With respectfully bowed head he said with surety, "We will return." he looked up and into the void ahead, "Earth, we'll see you again in one year."
Orion sat down at the comm unit, nervous about what he would see. Despite his earlier declaration of confidence to Nova, he still didn't know if he was ready for this, and he suddenly understood young Miss Forrester's feelings.
He had been forced to put off his own call until now since no one had been able to answer him the first time he'd tried to call.
He hesitated for a moment, then dialed his son's home. He waited, and waited. He was just about to give up and ask the captain for another try before they left, but just then he heard the familiar voice of his older son, "Pop! Ya called!" Sean Orion's face lit up, "Maggie!" he summoned his wife who was somewhere else in the house, "It's Pop!"
"I'm comin'!" she replied, scurrying over to where Sean stood. "How are ya, Pop?" Maggie asked.
Only then did the old engineer see the signs of wear on them both. His son's face, though happy, was weary. Maggie's had thinned considerably.
"I'm fine; how're you? They been feedin' you?" Orion asked, genuinely concerned now.
"Aye." Sean nodded, "But it's gettin' harder to get enough for all four of us. The bigger your family, the harder it is. Thakfully Patrick usually stands in line for food so we don't have to." Sean laughed thinly, "What're little brothers for after all?"
"Papa, is that Grandpa?" a small voice said.
"Kathleen!" Orion exclaimed as Sean reached down and picked up his daughter. The ease with which he did so took the old man aback. "How are you?" he asked his little brown-haired granddaughter.
"I'm okay, Grandpa. A little hungry sometimes, but that's all. It's my birthday in two days." She beamed at her grandfather.
"Yes, I know." Despite his best efforts, Orion felt tears beginning to well up. "Happy early birthday. I'm sorry I can't be there, but once I get home I'll be there for as many as I can."
"I know, Grandpa. Don't worry. I'll see you when you come back." Kathleen leaned forward and blew a kiss to her grandfather.
All the adults looked at the girl sadly, knowing that there was a possibility that Kathleen would never see her grandfather ever again.
Just then the door burst open and in dashed Patrick Jr.
"Pop!" he exclaimed out of breath. "I thought you were calling later."
"I called earlier, but no one was home." Orion replied,
"Ah, that. We're applying to move because of the food shortages. They're moving people to other areas as quickly as they can, but there's still a lot of us left." Patrick replied.
Orion nodded, "A good idea." He looked at every one of his family sadly, noting the countdown had reached ten seconds. "I have to go now, but take care of my granddaughter, Sean. You too, Maggie."
"We will." They both said just before the screen went black.
The old man sat back in the chair and let his tears come. He prayed he would see his family again, and that when he did, they would be safe and sound.
After Orion finally left the comm center Mark stepped in. Like Orion he'd tried to reach his family earlier, but they hadn't been home. He hoped it wasn't because of something serious.
He placed his hand on the scanner.
"Venture, Marcus." The computer said, "Dialing."
There was a moment of silence as the computer tried to connect to Earth from this great distance.
Suddenly the timer started and an image of his family's living quarters filled the screen. On the other side of the room his little brother sat playing with a model of some kind. He couldn't see it clearly, but it looked like a ship of some sort.
"Jordy?" Mark said, trying to get the boy's attention. "Jordy?"
The boy looked around, not sur where the familiar voice of his brother had come from, then he chanced to look at the communication unit.
"Mark!" the boy dashed across the room, a smile on his face.
"Hey, little brother. What've you got there?" he asked, pointed down at the model Jordy held.
"It's the Argo." Jordy held it up. "I made it myself." He said proudly. "Like it?"
"I love it." Mark replied, noting the careful detail his brother had taken to ensure the ship's accuracy. The paint job was exemplary too. "Where are Mom and Dad?"
"They're out. Had to do with radiation screening or something. They're testing everyone regularly now. Even as school they had to test everyone…" Jordy looked down, "Some of the kids at school are sick now."
"I'm sorry, Jordy…" Mark replied, "Just promise me you won't get sick, okay?"
"You bet." Jordy nodded. "And Mom and Dad won't either."
"I hope not…" Mark thought, a feeling of dread curdling his gut as he thought about this possibility of his family being touched by the radiation the way so many others had been.
"You're worries about us, I know." Jordy interrupter his thought, "Don't be. We're okay. Just get to Iscandar and come back. We'll make it until you get here."
"You're sure?" Mark asked, starting to feel some of the optimism radiating from his brother.
"Yep." Jordy nodded firmly. "I'm sure."
"Thanks, Jordy. That helps a lot." Mark relaxed just the slightest bit.
"Oh, hey, Mom and Dad are back." Jordy started to leave the room to get his parents.
Mark glanced over at the timer. Five seconds! "No, Jordy, don't –"
Jordy disappeared and reappeared within two seconds, his parents in tow. He pointed excitedly at the screen and his parents had barely come into view before the screen went black.
Mark felt like his heart had been grabbed and crushed. The prospect of saying good-bye to his parents had been given to him and then suddenly taken away just like that and it hurt. He felt completely wrung out, "At least I got to see Jordy…and he's okay." He thought, then tried to focus on that one positive thought the entire way back to his lonely bunk.
Miezella Celestella and her half-sister, Mirenel Linke sat at the council table with the rest of the Leader's advisory. Their presence was always looked upon strangely by most of the council as the sisters were markedly of a different people than the Gamilons. Even Elisa Lysis, though part Iscandarian, bore the usual blue skin tone of the Gamilon people, but Celestella and Mirenel's skin was much closer to the color of the Bolars' – the sworn enemy of Gamilon.
Celestella and Mirenel knew well the bias of the advisory council, and as such did not speak often in their meetings.
Today was no different. They sat in silence, listening, waiting and watching for anything that they needed to know or that they could ferret away for future use.
The council discussed several reports from the front-lines, including a few from Colonel Gantz, one from the Pluto outpost, and one from General Lysis.
Celestella's eyes widened just the slightest when she heard about the destruction on Pluto. The Eratites had exceeded her expectations yet again. That same feeling of dread began to rise in her again at every mention of that strange ship now hurtling towards them. And on top of that, they had somehow figured out how to construct an engine powerful enough and advanced enough to enable them to perform warps – albeit short ones, but this fact troubled her greatly. And then there was the continued silence from her Mistress, the great Malha Guardiana.*
The Malha left Gamilon some time ago, but since then Celestella had heard nothing – no news at all. She didn't know if she should be worried, or happy – worried that something ill had befallen her Mistress, or happy that she had found something worth pursuing.
As difficult as the Malha was to deal with, Celestella wished now that she were back here to guide her and Mirenel through this time.
Celestella listened to the meeting, bored. Nothing new had happened – at least, nothing that this council knew about.
She was relieved when it was over.
As soon as the dismissal was given she and her sister went back to their quarters to try to find something useful to do until the next time they were summoned by either the Leader, or his council.
Celestella approached the door to their quarters first, and just as she was about to open it, she felt a familiar chill pass over her.
"Mirenel…" she whispered to her sister.
"I know… I feel it too…" Mirenel whispered back.
Celestella took a deep breath and opened the door.
The two women stepped into the dark room and the door immediately closed behind them. "Who are you and why are you here?" Celestella asked, her voice echoing through the open space.
There was dark cackling, "Oh… I am a friend, Miezella Celestella – a friend you will be very happy to meet. I come with news… from the Malha."
Mirenel gasped, "The Malha? But she is gone. No one knows where she is."
"Not so, Mirenel Linke, for I know."
"Who are you?" Celestella asked, stepping in front of her sister, just in case their visitor intended harm to them. After all, friends of the Malha tended to be unpredictable at times.
The stranger triggered one of the room's lights and it shone directly on him.
Both women's eyes widened.
"How can this be?" Celestella asked, shocked, "You were exiled with the Usurper."
"Perhaps so." He replied with a smirk, "But the laws of man are of no concern to me right now."
"Then what is?" Mirenel asked from behind her sister.
"The Malha has news for you from the planet… Guardiana."
* Malha Guardiana – a reference from the previous two books; The Malha Aurelia Guardiana is Leader Desslok's grandmother, and the murderer of his mother, Queen Talonka of Gamilon. The Malha is the main proponent of the Cult of Guardiana who worship a demon that calls itself "Diana." The cult wrecked much havoc on Gamilon, starting rebellions and costing numberless lives in its attempts to overthrow the rightful government. Anyone suspected of being involved in the cult is now shipped off world or executed to avoid further political upheavals.